Knuckles and Gloves

In this little-known gem of boxing history published in 1923, author Bohun Lynch observes, "There was a delightful simplicity about the old boxing matches." The men fought to the finish; that is, when one failed to meet his opponent in the center of the ring. A round ended with a knockdown or a fall from wrestling, and only 30 seconds were allowed for rest and recovery. From the giants of bare-knuckle prize fighting through the pioneers of gloved combat, the men of these early years forged the renowned science of boxing in the cauldron of brutal, bloody, long-lasting bouts that would be inconceivable today. Knuckles and Gloves covers this fascinating era in the history of boxing - the 18th through early 20th centuries. Lynch provides a valuable examination of the period when the sport transitioned from the use of bare fists to gloves, as well as snapshots of the great fighters of the day. Jack Dempsey, Jack Johnson, Robert Fitzsimmons and James Corbett are all familiar names to modern boxing fans, but here you will also read about Frank Slavin, Jem Belcher, Tom Spring, Tom Sayers and other early combatants of the ring. Lynch’s informed commentary about the development of boxing during this important